teaching young children, 4 th edition © 2009 pearson education, inc. all rights reserved chapter 2...

Teaching Young Children, 4th Edition

© 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved

Chapter 2

Historical Contexts

© 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.

2

Teaching Young Children, 4th EditionHenniger

Goals of Chapter 2 Learn about the Early European

influences on early childhood education

Study the beginnings of early childhood education in the U.S.

To review historical events that have influenced the directions in early childhood education


3


Historical Figures Influencing Early Childhood Education

Understanding the contributions of these individuals provides insight into the theory an practice of programs today

Some were theorists others were practitioners


4


European Contributors Martin Luther (1483-1546)

A leader in promoting educational theory and practice

Promoted children’s ability to read Suggested many revolutionary ideas

for his time such as: All towns and villages should have

schools Both boys and girls should be

educated Schools should foster intellectual,

religious, physical, emotional, and social development


5


John Amos Comenius Promoted that the first years are crucial to

overall development Believed that movement and activity were

signs of healthy learning experiences Children learn best from natural, real-world

experiences. His goal of education “To seek and find a

method by which the teachers teach less and the learners learn more, by which the schools have less noise, obstinacy and frustrated endeavors, but more leisure, pleasantness”


6


Jean Jacques Rousseau Had significant influence on early childhood

theory and practice His writings describe the ideal early education of

an imaginary child-Emile Was an advocate for educational experiences

that were very different from what children were receiving

He proposed: Negative education, formal education should

be postponed until age 12 Learning from nature Education should focus on sensory

experiences Children need to choose their learning

experiences Childhood is a separate state of development


7


Johann Pestalozzi Has been described as a great teacher

who made efforts to love and care for his students in addition to educating them.

He modeled: Careful observation of children Recognizing the potential in each child Importance of teacher-child

relationships Strengthening peer relations Sensory learning


8


In Practice Pestalozzi suggested:

Be a good role model Make time for positive interactions Demonstrate high expectations for

children Show children you care


9


Friedrich Froebel Known as the Father of Kindergarten Kindergarten means “children’s garden”

in German He wrote books on teaching materials

“Education of Man” and techniques including “Mother play and Nursery Songs”

He believed we should incorporate songs and musical experiences into classrooms

Realized that children had a natural tendency to join hands and make a circle, thus the creation of “Circle Time”


10


Maria Montessori

The first female physician in Italy Was interested in mentally retarded

children of the slums Assumed directorship of a school

for “defective” children Opened a school called Casa dei

Bambini (Children’s House) in Rome


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Margaret McMillan She and her sister were concerned with

health problems facing young children in England

Founded the “Open-Air Nursery” Emphasized outdoor play Believed in facilitating emotional

development Parental involvement Children’s art


12


Lev Vygotsky Zone of Proximal Development Relationship between language and thought Value of Play

Play creates an imaginary situation that allows the child to work through desires that are unrealizable.

Play contains rules for behavior. If children are to successfully complete a play scene, they must follow the accepted rules for social behavior.

Emphasis on social interactions


13


Sigmund Freud Studied human personality and

emotional development – psychoanalysis

Had major influence on child rearing practices during the 20th century

Promoted gratifying experiences for children


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Jean Piaget Had a major impact on early education Believed the child actively constructs, rather

than receives knowledge Learning is a social and collaborative

endeavor Activities are learner centered Activities are often cross-disciplinary,

encouraging connections & integrating information

Topics should be student driven Emphasis should be on understanding and

application Assessment is through authentic measures,

not standardized testing


15


American Influences

The 20th century was a period of rapid improvements in American education.


16


John Dewey A philosophy instructor who applied his

philosophical ideas to the study of education

He began a Progressive Movement in American education

He believed that: Education should be integrated with life Education should preserve social values True education occurs in social

situations Children’s instincts and powers create

starting points for education Active learning is essential


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Erik Erikson German born came to the U.S.

to continue his work Refined and extended on the

work of Freud Emphasis on healthy

personality Epigenetic principle Created psychosocial stages of

development


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Abraham Maslow Humanistic There is a basic goodness of

children Humans must successfully meet

needs to lead to healthy development, if there are unmet needs, they will face difficulties

Stressed the importance of self Developed the Hierarchy of Needs


19


Benjamin Bloom

Writings led to an increased interest in early childhood education

Popularized the importance of development in the early years

Promoted the idea that human intelligence was strongly influenced by environmental factors


20


Jerome Bruner

Harvard Professor who published “The Process of Education”

He challenged education at all levels, believing any subject could be taught to any person at any age

He promoted discovery or inquiry learning

Teachers should guide students as they uncover meaningful understandings


21


Arnold Gesell Discovered “norms” of

development Identified observable changes in

growth and behavior


22


Patty Smith Hill Created a strong curriculum for

young children (based on Froebel and Dewey)

She helped found the Laboratory nursery school at Columbia University

Founded the National Association for Nursery Education, later to become NAEYC


23


Lucy Sprague Mitchell Helped start the laboratory school

at the Bureau of Education Experiments in New York, later renamed Bank Street College


24


Abigail Eliot Directed the Ruggles Street

Nursery in Boston, a model for Head Start Programs

Child-sized equipment, comprehensive program including health care, variety of materials, full-day program, worked with parents.


25


Historical Events Influencing Early Childhood Education

Child Study Movement Valid Child development

information came from this interest

Laboratory Nursery Schools Bureau of Educational

Experiments (Bank Street) Columbia University Teachers

College Merrill-Palmer Institute Yale Guidance Nursery


26


Historical Events InfluencingEarly Education (continued) The Great Depression

Had an important impact on ECE WPA (Works Progress Administration) put

unemployed teachers, custodians, cooks and nurses to work in government sponsored preschools

A false perception was that if you could work with older children, you could easily work with young children

Another false perception was that teachers of young children did not need much training or salary for the work the did


27


Historical Events InfluencingEarly Education (continued)

World War II With men needed in war, women hit the

work force in numbers, creating a temporary need for care for young children

Lanham act made federal money available for child care.

The Kaiser Shipyard in Portland implemented:

Specially designed buildings, locations at work sites, open 24 hours a day, special attendance times, infirmary for sick children, family consultants, home food service


28



Sputnik The launching of Russia’s 1st satellite in

1957, made the U.S. aware that we are behind them in the race to conquer this new frontier

We needed to do a better job educating our children so we could keep up with Russian Scientists

Renewed interest in ECE- more public support and federal funds

Yet, overemphasized intellectual performance, and high expectations.

The American public wanted a quick fix


29



The War on Poverty JFK and Johnson wanted to help the

low-income families break free from poverty

Head Start began, emphasizing on the development of the whole child and family participation

Project Follow Through – a way to continue assistance to low-income families through primary grades


30



Federal Mandates No Child Left Behind Act (2001) Designed to produce quality

education for all Three provisions

Renewed interest in reading Strengthened teacher quality Federal assistance for non-English

speakers“…to ensure that all children have a fair, equal,

and significant opportunity to obtain high-quality education”


31


Observing Development – Childhood Play Observe

Go to MyEducationLab and select “Child Development” and watch the video “Intelligency-Infancy”

Reflect What learning was taking place as the

infant played with blocks?

Apply What ways did the adult facilitate the

play with blocks?


32


Multimedia Exploration and Activities…

Research Go to MyEducationLab and select

“Multicultural Education” then watch the video “Self-Concept Challenge”.

Reflect What are the negative consequences for life

on reservations for children? Are there positive consequences?

Respond Discuss the History of Native American

Education and its implications for early childhood education.

teaching young children, 4 th edition © 2009 pearson education, inc. all rights reserved chapter 2...

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